Paae 4 -The Chronlde, Sataiday, Felnn>vy‘24itl89
VIEWPOINTS editorials
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column
Member North Carolina Black Publisher's Association
Cut Out The Food Tax
The most constructive step the General Assembly can
take this year to bring equity to North Carolina’s tax
system is to repeal the sales tax on food.
There is a tendency not to notice the four percent extra
which rings on the cash register. Few take the time to
notice the tax before groaning at the overall total of their
grocery bill. '
However, the average North Carolina taxpayer is likely
to spend more on the sales tax each year than on the
state income tax, the tax which is more noticeable,
appearing on one’5 paycheck.
Unlike the income tax, the sales tax is a regressive
form of taxation. That means that it most severely
affects the poor. U.S. Department of Labor statistics
show that low-income families spend 25 per cent of their
income on food, in comparison to the nine percent
upper-income families spend.
Another analysis, compiled by the state Legal Aid
office shows that a family suravihg on a minimum-wage
income will spend 41 per cent of its oncome on food, and
pay $92.16 per year on food sales taxes.
Senior citizens living on Social Security will spend 29
per cent of their income, according to the Legal Aid
analysis, on food and pay almost $50 per year in food
sales taxes.
Relief from those extra few pennies or dollars on top of
each week’s grocery bill would be much more
meaningful than the $25 rebate idea that Gov. Hunt has
floated.
Twenty-two of the 45 states levying sales taxes exempt
food. The regressive nature of the tax is only part of the
rationale behiqd the growing national movement against
taxes on food and other necessities.
Part of any such recoupment could come from the sales
tax itself. Most services are exempted from the tax.
That aspect is one of the current tax’s more regressive
features. The poor spend a large portion of their income
on non-exempt essential items, while the more wealthy
spend more on exempt items.
What is needed is an overall look at the state’s manner
of raising its revenue, from the income tax to the sales
tax to the taxes levied by localities, particularly the
property tax to insure that the burden of taxation is fairly
distributed and in line with the ability of the citizens to
pay-
Americans New Realities
From Iran to Mexico to China, we see evidence of new
realities affecting the way America conducts its foreign
policy.
No longer can American officials or businesses stamp
their foot and dictate policies in other nations. No longer
can American needs take precedence over the internal
needs of other nations.
This shift in geopolitical relationships is deeply rooted
in the liberation struggles of “Third World” nations in
Africa, Latin America and Asia, dating back from the two
World Wars.
The leaders we see today telling America to deal with
Third World nations on equal terms are either first or
second generation products of those liberation fights.
The task ahead for our leadership is to understand the
nature of these “new realities” and to adjust American
policies to fit within the new world order.
Such a change will be difficult. In the crises in Iran and
Chinese border, the Carter administration has resisted
the temptation to intervene massively as previous
administrations might have done.
Instead, other nations were left alone to work out their
own affairs. However, there is a conservative backlash
which interprets the policy of non-interference as a sign
of weakness.
Adherents to this theme say they’re tired of seeing
America pushed around. What they fail to see is the
emergence of new power blocks which force an
interdependent America to take other nations into
account.
The choice America takes, honest dealing with all
nations or “gunboat diplomacy” will likely determine
whether the world begins to live in true peace or
consumes itself in warfare.
Letters to the Chronicle
student Discovers Need For History
Dear Editor:
I am writing to tell you
about the lack of knowledge
of our black history in the
city/county schools. I am
depressed to find that most
of our young people do not
Ihjow who some ofour most
implartant people are.
TheSBevoung people who
will face fSg future’s chal
lenges have hardly any
knowledge of our heritage.
It is necessary for us to
know where we really staqd
in the world at present and
in the past.
1 feel we have been
rudely neglected by the
public schools. Teachers
need to know more of the
heritage so they can teach
the students and help them
understand what struggles
we’ve come through by
exposing them to some of
our most important
speakers, poets, writers.
etc.
This is a need all of us
share - mostly the young.
Students are the future
leaders and citizens, and
they must know what we’ve
been through and how far
we have to go to reach the
full meaning of the word
“equality.”
Regarding the articles in
your paper, I appreciate
reading about Winston-
Relative Noted
Dear Editor:
Realizing that I would be
Interested, two very dear
friends of mine (in the
person^ of Mr. - and Mrs.
Dock A. Grier) sent me
pages 13-16 of The Chroni
cle, dated February 3,
1979.
I was thrilled to read your
report, “Roots of Black
Winston-Salem.” 1 recog
nized the picture tabled
“The First Building at
Winston-Salem State Uni
versity” as the building
where I attended Sunday
School and Episcopal
Church Services between
1913-1924.
Further, I was delighted
to see my Grandfather’s
name, Bridgers, listed
among the early black at
torneys. I remember quite
well Atty. John Fitts and
Atty. J.L. Lanier. To
complete your records, I am
writing to say that my
Grandfather’s initials are
A.R. (the late Atty. A.R.
Bridgers). The initials
stand for Aaron Reuben.
I am most grateful to my
friends for sending me this
portion of your paper. 1
don’t know the cost per
copy, however, 1 would
really appreciate it if you
would send me a complete
issue of February 3rd and
as many subsequent issues
as the enclosed check will
cover.
Very Sincerely yours,
Waltena Bridgers Josie
Orangeburg, S.C.
Salem’s black history. 1
never knew about that in
formation before.
The articles give me an
idea of what it was like back
in 1769. Your articles are
very important to all of us.
Many of us don’t know
about our beginnings here
in Winston-Salem, and I’m
pleased you brought these
facts to your paper.
I’m sure all of us want to
know more about our his
tory in Winston-Salem.
Thank you again for
bringing these valuable
facts of our past lives to
your paper.
Sincerely yours,
Ronnie Conrad,
Student/Learning Center
Column Read
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Write the Chronicle
at
P.O. Box 3154,
Winston — Salem,
N.C. 27102
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Dear Editor:
I’ve heard from attorneys
from Raleigh, Durham,
Georgia and other places
about our articles in
“EXPERT ADVICE.” Ap
parently The Chronicle has
wide circulation. Needless
to say. I’m quite pleased
and am writing more
articles.
Evelyn Dove
Legal Aid Society
Getting
Along
Problems Common To All
The sharp increase in food prices is another
contributing factor. As the cost of food goes up, (60 per
cent since 1973 with another 10 per cent predicted this
year), the amount of sales tax collected goes up, taking
even bigger bite out of family budeets.
[Alvin Ponssaint and James P. Comer are
psychiatrists and the authors of the hqok “Black Child
Care.” Dr. Ponssaint Is associate professor of psychiatry
and associate dean for student afialrs at Eburvard
Medical School. Dr. Comer Is professor of child
psychiatry and associate dean for student afialrs at Yale
University School of Medldne.]
Food tax relief should be begun not as an insolated
move. First, there is the question of where can the lost
revenue ($150 million for fiscal year 1978-79) be
recouped. There is also the question of whether it should
be recouped.
Dear Dr. Poussaint: I am a 23 year old black woman.
Recently I was forced to remove my bumperstlcker which
stated “I’m Proud to Be Black” due to a number of
incidents such as mysterious scratches on the hood of my
car (no accident. I’m sure), sticky fluid poured on the
windows, KKK stickers on the car door, and harassment
by a police officer.
I had thought that racism was dying out, but needless
to say. I’m having doubts about that now. Why don’t
white people want us to be proud? They’ve taken
everything else, must they take quf pride, too?
Incidently, my car is a new sports car and kind of flashy.
Could that be a factor?
S.O. Houston, Texas
Dear S.O.: Racism is not dead in America. In fact, it is
alive and well. Although this country has seen a great
deal of progress in the area of race relations in the last
several decades, much still remains to be accomplished.
Some whites, usually those who are uneducated,
resent any sense of pride or achievement displayed by
black people. The would like blacks to remain inferior.
Many times, underachieving whites are jealous of
successful blacks.
Consequently, these whites begin to experience of
inferiority and self-doubt and then take out their
frustrations on other racial groups who are supposed to
be inferior to them. Some members of the white
community are so downtrodden that they feel their only
recourse is their whiteness and attitude of white
supremacy.
Fortunately, it is a small minority who commits these
acts of harassment like those you experienced. But thesei
incidents create an unpleasant and sometimes threat
ening atmosphere. However, don’t take unnecessary
risks in neighborhoods you don’t know well. Your flashy
car will attract attention and some misguided people will
feel you are trying to rub in your success.
Finally, tell the local police and community groups
about the harassment you are experiencing. It is
important that local officials speak out against ineiii
before they escalate into major problems.
Dear Dr. Poussaint: I attended a predominantljij
prestigious prep school which had a small J
enrollment. Conseequently, I became very gooj|jj
with many of the white students. Because ^
experience I now feel very comfortable with whites
I am now a freshman at college and my close H
are white. Most black students seem to resent tlisi
ostracize me even though I have tried to become fi
with some of them. Don’t blacks believe in
and black/white brotherhood anymore? As for
have no choice but to stick with my white friends,
LI
Dear L.M.J.: Your dilemma is not a simple ont,
may indeed have had a unique experience, diffemj
the bulk of black students. While you have
trust whites, many blacks who also believe inblacilii
brotherhood have not had similar positive expenj
with whites and are more distrustful and suspecti^
them.
Sometiihes interracial friendships can be partial
trying. I .know of many blacks who have had i|
friends who diew the line on how far their frieil
could„go:
As your white tHfeods leave college and enter tk
world of social pressures and racial prejudices,
liberalism may fade away. Thus, you may face reja
at some point when out of the protected confim
college. Black students in your situatten have bea
quite bitter and disillusioned with this type Of tejeiti
There are other issues you might want to consU
Your own social, cultural speech and styles maybe;
akin to your white prep school friends thari to your K
college associates who may see you as differel
peculiar. They may even feel that you think y*
better than them because of your associations
affluent whites. Since it is not unusual for blacksfn
predominantly white environment to feel supeiii
other blacks, you should be careful not
condescending or arrogant to your black classmates,
Closely examine the relationships you have wii
white friends. Are you trying too hard to be jiisll
them and to be accepted? Are you their teddy be«i
part of their socially broadening experience but nol«
perceived as an equal?
(c) 1979, Summit Press SynilB
mill mill
Speaking Out
By Bayard Rustin
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During the 1960’s, many
young militants complained
that American democracy
was nothing more than a
sham, a mere facade to
conceal the real workings of
an oppressive system. In
Black Power, for example,
Stokely Carmichael and
Charles Hamilton pointed
jto “the conflict between the
'so-called American Creed
and American practice.”
As they saw things, demo
cracy’s claims to equality
and liberty “are simply
words.”
While some black people
despaired of the democratic
polical process, others -
like Dr. King, A. Philip
Randolph, Roy Wilkins and
many more - grappled with
its imperfections and trans
formed it into a dymanic
agent for racial equality
and constructive social
change.
This transformation, of
course, did not miraculous
ly happen overnight. On
the contrary, it was the
culmination of a long series
of painfully slow advances,
some of them almost im
perceptible and seemingly
insignificant. We fought'
hard and long sometimes
against terrible odds; but,
by and large, we succeeded
'in achieving many of our
most important goals.
Without a doubt, then.
the old Carmichael-
Hamilton critique of Ameri
can democracy was proved
erroneous. Yet as we
toppled one obstacle after
another, by organizing a
Congressional majority, we
never succeeded in elimina
ting one particularly frus
trating roadblock - the
Senate filibuster. Indeed,
bu establishing de facto
minority rule, the filibuster
serves as a perfect example
of “a conflict between so-
called American Creed and
American practice,” to use.
the words of Carmichael
and Hamilton.
tage for 18 years.
Now, after fighting the
undemocratic filibuster for
so many years, we seem to
be on the verge of a major
breakthrough. Because of
the untiring work of Senate
Minority Leader Robert
Byrd, a man who li
once used the filibn*
truly masterful wiji
Senate will soon
set of new rules design
curb the veto
Winston-Salem Chronicle
FouncJed 1974
Ndubisi Egemonye
President
People with good memo
ries will surely recall the
83-day talkathon aimed at
defeating the Civil Rights
Act of 1964. Although the,
bill had President
Johnson’s support, and the
backing of a clear majority
in the Senate, a minority
held it captive by corralling
it with a filibuster. Even
tually the filibuster ended
and the bill became law,
but many other key pieces
of civil rights legislation
were either defeated or
delayed by minority veto in
the Senate. Passage of the
Anti-Poll Tax bill, for in
stance, was delayed for 22
years because of filibusters
and threats of filibusters.
And the Fair Employment
Practices Act was held hos-
Ernest H. Pitt
Editor/Publisher
Isharyn Bratcher John W. TempW
iManaging Editor Executive Editoi
Robert Eller Yvette McCulM
Sports Editor Photo Editor
Elaine L. Pitt
Office Manager
jThe Chronicle welcomes news items. Deadli®*
handwritten materials is Monday at 5 P’ ,
iTypewritten materials; Tuesday at 5 p.m-
I the Editor should be signed and should
Iname, address and telephone number of th®